Scunthorpe Jobcentre works with Youth Engineering to help young people move into employment

Liam Fitzgerald has been offered an apprenticeship with a Scunthorpe manufacturing company after completing a placement with Youth Engineering (Image: Scunthorpe Live)

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Young people are being given the skills to move into paid employment in a partnership between the Scunthorpe Jobcentre Plus branch and a local community interest company.

Youth Engineering, based on Hoylake Road, helps disadvantaged young people between the ages of 17 and 24 in the Scunthorpe area by providing training, experience and support to enable them to enter the labour market.

It also helps manufacturers by providing a wide range of steel, stainless steel and aluminium components and its customers include Bradbury Group, Portakabin and Waco.

And the organisation benefits employers by providing fully-trained operatives who have received tailor-made training.

When Liam Fitzgerald claimed Universal Credit, his work coach discussed the opportunity to gain some skills in a work environment at Youth Engineering.

Liam took the opportunity and was pre interviewed by Thelma Slavin, the skills advisor for Scunthorpe Jobcentre Plus.

Jobcentre Plus can help young people move onto courses to gain the skills needed to get paid employment (Image: PA)

Thelma said: "The one to one support that this programme at Youth Engineering provides is unique in this area. We have the opportunity to place people in a working environment with an employer getting advice and support direct from the work place.

"Liam was unsure what type of work he wanted to get into but was happy to receive guidance on this. Although nervous in joining the programme, his confidence grew as the programme developed.”

At Youth Engineering, Liam experienced the work environment and undertook health and safety awareness and training. He also had the opportunity to work alone, as well as part of a team.

Liam gained experience in the manufacturing sector as well as the general work skills that would help him in most job roles.

Staff at Youth Engineering also supported Liam to update his CV, put together covering letters and assisted with job search. He gained confidence, which in turn helped him to be able to work on his own initiative.

Liam Fitzgerald, pictured at work (Image: Scunthorpe Live)

Liam completed the voluntary 12-week placement and was delighted when he was offered an apprenticeship with a leading Scunthorpe manufacturing business.

He said: "Youth Engineering is a great place to work. Working here has helped to improve my confidence as well as other skills such as working as part of a team.

"Youth Engineering is a supportive environment, they offer help with CVs, covering letters and interview skills in order to help you find work."

Lindsay Cates, managing director for Youth Engineering Scunthorpe, said: "It is rewarding for all of us at YES to see young people, like Liam, engaging with the opportunities we can offer them to help find work and then achieve employment."

Anne Brewster, employer and partnership manager for Scunthorpe Jobcentre Plus, said: "Under Universal Credit we aim to work with employers and partners in the area to give people the skills they need to get a job and progress.

"This is fantastic news for Liam and I wish him all the best for his future.

"If you are looking for work, whatever the sector, and want to see if this is a suitable opportunity for you, please talk to your Jobcentre work coach and find out more.

"Taking that step which can be putting you out of your comfort zone might be the best thing you can do. The majority of organisations are willing to, and do, support those who want to work and the staff in Scunthorpe Jobcentre Plus do all that they can ensure that happens."